The prize was meeting the man himself and the pair developed a deep friendship, one that was encouraged by an over-eager, self-described stage mother, spellbound by Jackson’s celebrity. Described as “a sensitive boy”, he preferred dance over basketball and was soon emulating Jackson’s moves at the age of five in a local contest. The first accuser, whom we hear from at the outset, is Wade Robson, who at a young age developed an intense fandom for Jackson, his “walls plastered” with posters. Their accounts contain many similarities: they were both younger than 10 when they got to know Jackson, they both possessed a keen interest in performing and they were both allegedly groomed then abused for an extended period of time. In a decision justified in a post-screening Q&A, Reed limits the focus to the two accusers and their families, insisting quite rightly that their stories remain powerful without any extraneous material. While prior court cases might have buckled and previous accusers might have been labelled delusional opportunists, it’s difficult to imagine this sensitively crafted and horrifically detailed film being quite so easily denied. Before it started, we were informed that healthcare professionals were on hand for those who might need it, the explicit descriptions potentially causing difficulties for those who might feel triggered. Over four hours, set to be shown in two portions on HBO and Channel 4, Reed shared the detailed testimonies of two men accusing Jackson of graphic and extensive sexual abuse when they were children. Protests had been teased online, leading to an increased police presence, but on a frosty morning here in Utah, only a small group of the late singer’s die-hard obsessives showed up.įor those inside the Egyptian theatre on Main Street, resistance wasn’t futile, it was utterly impossible. The singer’s estate labelled it “an outrageous and pathetic attempt to exploit and cash in on Michael Jackson” while fans have reportedly levelled threats against the film’s director, the Bafta winner Dan Reed. I think what we’ve done is extraordinary and unique, and it’s never been done before.Ever since it was announced as a late addition to this year’s Sundance film festival, controversy hasn’t been far behind. I think it’d be very difficult not to believe them, once you’ve listened to them and their families.” He added, realizing many of the allegations against Jackson have died down in recent years: “I’m kind of astonished that this film hasn’t been made before. “I think most people who take the trouble to watch the film will come out believing Wade and James’s story. And I haven’t found anything that made me question whether they were telling the truth or not,” Reed said. This was days and days of interview, followed up by lots of checking up and verifying.
Speaking to Vulture about his experience directing the film, Reed explained he chose to embark on such a controversial topic because he truly believes Robson and Safechuck are credible in their accusations. Afterwards, it’ll be available to stream indefinitely, in full, for those who have active HBO subscriptions. Specifically, the network decided to split the documentary into two parts - the first will become available on March 3, with the second on March 4. HBO was quick to snag the rights to Leaving Neverland, and it will air over two nights on the network beginning March 3 on its live channel and streaming services, HBO GO and HBO Now. Jackson’s estate and family have denounced the film as “tabloid character assassination,” and likened Robson and Safechuck to “two perjurers.” Directed by Dan Reed, the doc - which clocks in at over four hours - interviews two men, Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who allege the late pop star sexually abused them when they were children, at ages 10 and 7, respectively. At this year’s Sundance Film Festival, the film that met with the biggest controversy was Leaving Neverland, a documentary that extensively details child sex-abuse allegations against Michael Jackson.